I’m really excited about this idea. Rob asked me, “Why can’t we just make a lifestyle change? Why does it have to ‘Compacting’?”
To which I replied, “Being a part of a movement is SO much cooler than just making a lifestyle change.”
I’m really excited about this idea. Rob asked me, “Why can’t we just make a lifestyle change? Why does it have to ‘Compacting’?”
To which I replied, “Being a part of a movement is SO much cooler than just making a lifestyle change.”
I spent the day at the mall and got really great deals on new shirts and pants at Ann Taylor Loft. I’m really excited about them. Therefore, I am not a compacter.
Although, I do try to conserve whenever possible. Our dryer is broken right now, so I’ve gotten into a system of hanging our clothes on hangers and drying them on the curtain rod in the bathroom. I think I may continue doing that to some degree to save more energy on the drying.
But, because we so rarely get new things, it can be quite exciting when it happens. It would be so hard to commit to something like that for a whole year.
PLUS the thrift stores are really bad down here for clothes and I have a hard time spending money on used clothes online, I want to try them on first.
I can’t say that I will never buy ANYTHING new, but I have for a long time felt that the U.S. economy is so greed driven that I can’t totally support it. My own personal rebellion has been in my choise of vehicles. I have not purchased or leased a new vehicle in years. Rather, I have researched (it’s amazing what old car model reviews are available online) the field and bought used vehicles that gave us approximately 100,000 miles of car payment free service that were surprisingly reliable. Also, when one was stolen and one was in an accident, the insurance gave us almost as much as we paid for them. It is true that there has been some maintenance costs along the way, but nothing like a car payment would have been. And the vehicles have been nice looking, not rust buckets.
I am sure this will work in other areas. So, good luck.
Since we have fun comparing Ellie and Rob with me and you, Devona, I’ll go ahead and say that I think the compact, while radical, is pretty cool. And I think it would be fun to try to be psycho about non-consumerism for a year if I knew other people were being psycho, too.
I’m like this with diets, too, I’ve realized. A simple “lifestyle change” will simply not work for me. I have to go all out, baby.
The only thing about the compact is that there are simply lots of things that you can not buy used or borrow. Dishwasher detergent? Deodorant? Underwear?(!!!) Also, what would a compacter’s policy be on things like wine, coffee, tea, tobacco, etc? Thee are clearly cash-crop items and are luxuries. And you can’t get them local-grown, usually. And you can’t exactly make them at home, at least in toto.
Another thought: is the accumulation of all sorts of goods equally bad? Or can there even be some things that lean toward being inherently good to accumulate? I’m thinking of my favorite thing to buy, buy, buy and for which I love to shop, shop, shop: books. It seems to me that building a good library, even if one’s motivation has some major elements of consumerism blatantly attached, is fundamentally different morally than building, let’s say, a collection of luxury automobiles or even, dare I say it, a CD collection. Now, of course, WHICH books you add to your library makes a big difference too, as does WHICH CDs you add to your collection. What I’m suggesting is that the building of a library, if it contains “the classics” and, for example, time-tested works of theology or biblical commentary, etc., is not entirely consumeristic in nature, because you’re acknowledging this thing called tradition, which can then be passed on to a new generation. But chances are the next generation isn’t going to give a rip about the CDs we add to our collections. I don’t even give a rip about 98% of my CDs.
Just some brainstorms. Any takers on this consumption distinction?
Andy, there’s plenty of questions there that make me want to make another post about it.
But I will quickly say that you don’t buy anything new unless it is food, for your health, or your safety. :) Used underwear is not really a safe idea. :-P
Compacting? This – can I post a link? – (http://wendyknits.net/stash2007.htm) is proving difficult enough.
Oh, this reminds me that I should be sewing from my stash. Maybe then I’ll be able to walk through my sewing room. (Ack!!!!!!)
Thanks Lisa. :-D
Oh, Devona, then I highly suggest you avoid googling Amy Butler, Heather Bailey, or Anna Maria Horner. And you certainly should NOT consider a trip to Polka Dot Pin-Cushion (located at routes 21 and 303). All terrible temptations for fabric stash enhancement. Not that I would know this personally. Just saying.
GREAT! Thanks a lot. :) Though with a budding home business in the works I can probably afford to search around a little… Next month. ;)